Biggar Branch Sk. Genealogical Soc. - Recently Updated Pages

Announcements

rwchambe — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:59:20 CDT

Family History Retreat

Mainstay Inn

Palliser Park

near Riverhurst, SK

October 17, 18, 19, 2008

Host by Central Butte Branch

of Saskatchewan Genealogical Society

Weekend Retreat Rates Per Person based on Double

Two night Package: $160 + tax

Includes:

-Friday and Saturday night Accommodation

-Breakfast, Lunch and Supper Saturday

-Breakfast Sunday

(Meals include one non-alcoholic beverage)

Registration Deadline:

October 01, 2008

One night Package: $125 + tax

Includes:

-Saturday night Accommodation

-Lunch and Supper Saturday

-Breakfast Sunday

(Meals include one non-alcoholic beverage)

Registration Deadline:

October 01, 2008

Registration Deadline: October 01, 2008

(Beginner Class- bring names/dates for 3 generations)

(Dating or Restoring Old Photos –bring 2/3 max)

Contact: Sandy Patrick - Mainstay Inn

(306) 353-2077

www.mainstayinn.ca

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Family History Retreat

Mainstay Inn @ Palliser Park near Riverhurst, SK

October 17, 18, 19, 2008

October 17 (Friday)

7:00- 7:30pm Registration
7:30- 8:30pm Thelma Caldwell Family History Beginner Class
8:00- 9:30pm Coffee, Tea and Your Family Tree

October 18 (Saturday)

7:30- 8:30am Breakfast

8:00- 8:30am Registration
8:30- 9:45am Rae Chamberlain English Research Part I
9:45-10:00am break
10:00-11:30am Christina Krismer Turning Piles into Files
12:00 - 1:00pm Lunch
1:00- 2:15pm Tim Novak Dating Old Photographs
2:15- 2:30pm break
2:30- 3:30pm Christina Krismer Cite Your Sources
3:30- 3:45pm break
3:45- 4:45pm Rae Chamberlain English Research Part II
4:45- 5:00pm break
5:00- 6:00pm Christina Krismer Genealogy Programs and the Internet
6:30pm Supper
7:30pm VW Productions presents “Restoring Photographs”

October 19 (Sunday)

8:00-9:30am Breakfast
9:30-10:30am Rae Chamberlain Research Sweden
10:30am + Farewell and Tour Riverhurst Museum

(nique Collection of Guns and Arrowheads)

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RESEARCH REQUESTS

Biggar Branch Saskatchewan Genealogical Society

charges $25.00 per name for answering research requests.

Upon receipt of a request the inquirer will be advised the Biggar Branch charges $25.00 per name to answer a research request and upon receipt of the said fee the Branch will carry out the research and issue a report.

Considerable time and effort goes into answering a research request.

We have a good success rate because of the resources

we have assembled over the past 23 years.

All research payment cheques should be made out to Biggar Branch Saskatchewan Genealogical Society and forwarded to Biggar Branch SGS,

P.O. Box 1103, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0

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NEW

The Biggar Root Booster newsletter is now posted on this site.

Click on the link.

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NEW

Biggar Encyclopaedia

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NOTICE

Regular monthly meeting of
Biggar Branch SGS
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
7:30 p.m.
doors open at 7:00 pm
for members to use our Branch Library

Everyone interested in tracing their
family history is welcome to attend.

Non-members are welcome to attend two Branch meetings before taking out a membership.

Memberships for 2008
SGS Membership Family $40.00
SGS Membership Senior $38.00
Biggar Branch Membership Fee $5.00

Future Meetings
July and August
no meetings
Summer Break

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Beginners Workshop
Are you interested in taking a Beginners Workshop?
If so, send an email to Rae @ rwcambe@sasktel.net
If there is interest Biggar Branch will hold a 3 part Beginners Workshop

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Who Do You Think You Are?
Watch for re-runs this summer
The first episode of a new family history program -
Who Do You Think You Are?
made its debute on Thursday October 11th.
This 13 part series will run on
Thursdays at 7:30pm.
If you have Star Choice the program may be watched as early
at 4:30 pm and as late as 8:30.
Check your Star Choice Guide or TV Guide for local CBC station.

On the CBC website they say this about the program.

"Who Do You Think You Are? is a genealogy series in which 13 well known Canadians set out to discover their family roots. The series combines the allure and appeal of celebrity with the intrigue of uncovering secret, tantalizing tales. Each half hour episode combines the intimacy of observational documentary, the revelation of a well told detective story, the fascination of biography and the excitement of big picture history. The individual journeys into family history reflect the sweep and drama of Canada's past. Celebrities whose family stories will be told include Randy Bachman, Don Cherry, Mary Walsh, Sonja Smits, Margot Kidder, General Lewis MacKenzie, Steven Page, Chantal Kreviazuk, Avi Lewis, Margaret Trudeau, Scott Thompson, Shaun Majumder and Measha Brueggergosman. "Who Do You Think You Are?" capitalizes on Canadians' growing fascination with genealogy. To be broadcast on CBC this fall, the series also has a strong web component enabling viewers to embark on a search of their own family histories. THURSDAY NIGHTS at 7:30 PM, commencing Oct 11/07. "Who Do You Think You Are?" is a trade mark of Wall to Wall Media Ltd and is used with permission and under licence."

Website at :
http://www.cbc.ca/whodoyouthinkyouare/

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Ancestors in the Attic Season 2
Watch for re-runs on the History Channel this summer

Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. E.T
Wednesdays at 1 p.m. E.T.
Wednesdays at 8 p.m. E.T.

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Volume 14, No. 2

rwchambe — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:24:01 CDT

Biggar Root Booster

Newsletter Biggar Branch Saskatchewan Genealogical Society

Volume 14, No. 2 Spring 2008

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SGS Seminar ‘08 - A Report

by Rae W. Chamberlain
The thirty ninth annual SGS Seminar is over for another year. Even though Seminar 2008 was in the spring this year participants had to contend with snow. In 1991 at the fall seminar in Prince Albert there were a few of us who got storm stayed . This time Prince Albert didn’t get the worst of the storm as it was farther west at the Alberta border. The venue for the seminar was the Masonic Lodge on 15th Ave. Accommodation arrangements were left up to the attendees with no hotel designated as a host.

The Masonic Lodge was established in Prince Albert in1876. In the early years there were several lodges within Prince Albert, but now there is only the one. On the lower level there were numerous portraits and photographs and other memorabilia on display. The main room was furnished with some beautiful historic oak and oak and leather furniture.

Registration was straight forward and quick. On the lower level they had a couple hundred items displayed that were donated by Prince Albert businesses or SGS members as a fund-raiser for the seminar. Everyone was offered a chance to buy tickets to drop into a container beside an item and hope there name would be drawn later.

The weekend was kicked off Friday evening with a talk titled "History Underground: A story History of Early Prince Albert" which told the story of uncovering of a historic cemetery during the construction of the Saskatchewan Forest Centre Building in 2004, the archaeological survey and excavation and uncovering how this all tied into the early history of Prince Albert. This was followed by a time to socialize and take in the SGS Silent Auction or browse the SGS sales table.

A well stocked continental breakfast Saturday morning was sponsored by Conexus Credit Union and Sunday morning Remco sponsored a hot breakfast with scambled eggs, pancakes, sausages and bacon. A representative from Conexus spoke to everyone Saturday morning. On Sunday, a speaker from Remco made a presentation on memorialization with examples from today and 4000 to 5000 years ago. Everyone doing memorialization needs to put much thought and to take time to chose a memorial that reflects the personality and life for whom you are creating the memorial.

Did You Know?
SGS Library Collection
is valued at
$ 347,281.00

Consists of 20,858 books
1,271 microfilms
34,499 microfiche
585 maps
10 videos
37 CD’s
Source 2007 SGS Annual Report

The Prince Albert Branch chose to go virtual with some the speakers this year. This meant the speakers stayed home and presented their topic by high speed internet service. For the most part, apart from a couple of small delays, this worked extremely well and I think, was well received. There was a moderator on hand who made contact with the speaker and dealt with any problems that came up. The speakers all made Power Point presentations which were projected from a projector onto a large screen via a laptop computer. The speaker himself controlled the visuals. The sound was excellent. The only drawback was on some of the visuals the text was too small to read, but when capturing screens off the net you have to work with what you are presented with. At the end of the presentation, there was time for questions. Questions were relayed to the speaker via the moderator. Virtual speakers included Paul McGarth of Toronto, who is noted for his role on the family history television show Ancestors in the Attic on History Television; Paul Blake of London, England; Sanda MacLean Clunies of Derwood, MD; Debbie Parker Wayne of Cushing, Texas and John Wiley of Grand Prairie, Texas. In person presenting topics, they had Lisa Rudolph of Saskatoon; Leverne Baxter of Christopher Lake, a Prince Albert Branch member; their own Nancy Carswell of Shellbrook, Sask, and Linda Monahan of Prince Albert and Christina Krismer of Regina, the SGS Education Coordinator. One speaker, unfortunately was not able to be present so those who had registered for that session were accommodated in another session of their choice for that time period.

The SGS Annual Meetings was held after lunch on Saturday afternoon. Certificates were presented to various people who had competed the requirements in the education program. Several donors to the SGS Moving Fund were presented with certificates of appreciation.

The SGS Heritage Award was presented to Leverne Baxter of Christopher Lake. Elections were held. Lindy Kasperski of Regina was elected by acclamation as President, Joyce Carlson and Colleen Slater-Smith were elected to the board with one board position unfilled. The Board will be filling the position by appointment.

Family History!

Biggar Branch

Saskatchewan Genealogical Society

Box 1103

Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

Branch Contact: Rae Chamberlain

306-948-3638

Visit our website:

http://www.biggargenealogy.wetpaint.com

Biggar Branch SGS Membership Benefits

receive the quarterly newsletter Biggar Root Booster
borrow books and magazines from Branch library
use of microfiche collection
experience and knowledge of other members to assist you researching your family history
educational workshops
gain knowledge on local genealogical resources for Biggar and area
special projects
network with other genealogists
keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of genealogy
advice on genealogical internet websites & sources

Biggar Branch SGS Members Attend

Re-opening of

SGS Library & Research Room and Office

by Rae W. Chamberlain

Several members of the Biggar Branch made the trek to Regina on May 2nd to attend the re-opening of the SGS Library & Research Room and Office. We were in Regina in time for lunch, then we headed over to the library. There was parking available on the side streets for two hours and two hour metre parking along 11th Ave., but I decided to go to the Impark on the north end in the block of the library building. There was also an Impark a block or so west on 11th Ave. If one is staying in the Regina Inn or Ramada the new location is within a short walking distance. Except I think, I would walk up Broad Street to11th Ave rather than go up Osler Street to 11th Ave. The new Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites at 1907 11th Ave is a short walk west of the new library. In the vicinity is Casino Regina and the Cornwall Center.

The library is in a well lite room.Through a door off the research room is the very nice staff offices and a space for the SGS volunteers to work. There is lots of room between the aisles for browsing the library stacks. Everything is well marked and the system they used for shelving the books is easy to use once one knows how it has been done. I had the opportunity to try out the computerized library catalogue. One could search the catalogue several ways. Much, much better - quicker and easier, to find stuff than searching the lists that are posted on the SGS website or searching through all the library lists that have been published each quarter in the Bulletin. Hopefully sometime in the future they will able to make the catalogue available via the net or on a CD.

If there are any Biggar Branch members interested in borrowing some books or periodicals from the library and are not sure of what to ask for just drop Celeste an email or give her a call and advise her where you are researching, what it is you are wanting to know and she will send you some books and periodicals to help you along with your research. If there are some specific periodicals of interest to you, advise Celeste and she will put your name on the mailing list so as the specific periodicals become available they will be circulate to you.

At 2p.m. the Executive Director, Linda Dunsmore-Porter and incoming President, Lindy Kasperski spoke a few words. The SGS Past-Presidents present were introduced and then asked to come forward and assist with the ribbon cutting. Members and guests circulated about, many delving into the books looking to make a discovery. This was followed by a social hour.

The SGS Library & Research Room and Office have settled in a much better space. Do plan on making a visit. The staff will orientate you for using the library and offer any assistance they can. There are many gems hidden away on those library shelves. Your ancestors may be in a book that is sitting on the shelf.

We left Regina before 4p.m., made a stop for supper and arrived back in Biggar about 8:45 p.m., just over 12 hours after we had left.

Biggar Root Booster

Now on Website

The first issue of our newsletter for this year has been placed on our website at http:biggargenealogy.wetpaint.com with no ads. I had trouble with some of the linefeeds being stripped away and not being able to restore them. So some of the formating of this issue is not to my liking. Further issues will be added to the site as they become available. Some of the ads may be added with this newsletter.

Release of 1916 Census

Watch the Library and Archives Canada website for the release of the 1916 Census for the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta sometime after June 1st. It is not known at this time in what form we will be able to access this census.

National Archives Conference

Canadian Council of Archives National Conference will be held in Regina May 24-25, 2008. All archives users are invited to attend. It will be interactive and informative with visits to several archives in the Regina area. Visit http://www.archivesconference.ca for more information. You can view the program and register online.

Biggar Encyclopaedia

A website for a Biggar Encyclopaedia has been set up at http:biggarencyclopaedia.wetpaint.com to tell the story of our town and its people in the format of the twenty-first century. This is a collaborative undertaking where anyone knowledgeable, or interested in preserving Biggar’s history can participate. It is set up in the ‘wiki’ format so the website allows for the participation of many not just one individual or editorial team. Anyone can contribute content by registering and submitting a writers request to the administrator. It is hoped the encyclopaedia will develop into a successful project to mark the Town of Biggar’s Centennial in 2011.

New Research Guides
Press Release May 2nd, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -
FamilySearch announced today the release of two new free research tools that will help those with British and Scottish roots to find their ancestors. The research guides, Finding Records of Your Ancestors, England, and Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Scotland feature easy-to-follow instructions, colorful graphics, and removable worksheets. Free copies can be viewed, downloaded, or printed online at FamilySearch.org.
The guides will help take the guesswork out of British and Scottish genealogical research by simplifying the process and giving users a specific, proven strategy to use. In an inviting workbook style, the guides show users which records to search, what to look for, and what tools to use. The steps and tools needed to navigate British and Scottish historical records to find ancestors are colorfully outlined.

Finding Records of Your Ancestors, England and Finding Records of Your Ancestors, Scotland, are the latest additions to the popular series of free online publications. The guides are designed for those who have already gathered some family history information about their British or Scottish ancestors and are ready to search public and private records——they are must-have reference tools for researchers of British or Scottish genealogy.

The guides explain different types of records in England and Scotland and instruct the user when and how to use specific records. Real-life case studies allow readers to see for themselves how the research process works. Expert search tips, including tips on how to use the Family History Library Catalog, are included. Also included are maps, key dates in British and Scottish histories, and guides for reading respective genealogical records.

Other guides in the Finding Records of Your Ancestors series include African American, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Jewish, Mexico, Norway, and Sweden.

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Biggar Root Booster Newsletter

rwchambe — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:55:08 CDT

This page is a topic heading for the Biggar Root Booster newsletter. Each issue of the newsletter will be posted by its Volume and issue Number on a separate page. You may click onto the link below or go to the navigation box and click onto the Volume and Number you wish to read.

Volume 14, No. 1, Winter 2008

Volume 14, No. 2, Spring 2008

Research Policy

rwchambe — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:42:25 CDT

Biggar is home to the Biggar Branch Saskatchewan Genealogical Society and its members are actively involved in preserving and documenting our local heritage. As a result the Biggar Branch SGS has a unique collection to assist researchers uncover their family history in the Town of Biggar and surrounding area.

The Branch offers two research services:

1) A basic search of local sources

and

2) Canadian National Railway

Seniority List Search

RESEARCH POLICY

Basic Search

The Biggar Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society
will do a basic search of local sources of one name for a
$25.00 Fee.

Sources included in a basic search are:

1) Cemetery Recordings:

Biggar Cemetery
Rosemount Cemetery
Landis Cemetery
Monarch Cemetery
Cochery Cemetery
Cando Cemetery (inscriptions only)
Ruthilda "new" Cemetery (inscriptions only)
R.M. of Glenside Cemeteries
Church of God Cemetery
Crane Creek United Church Cemetery
Emmanuel's Evangelical Gemeinde Lutheran Church Cemetery
Lizard Lake Cemetery
Lizard Lake Russian Baptist Cemetery (Old)
Lizard Lake Russian Baptist Cemetery (New)
St. Bridget's Anglican Church Cemetery, Baljennie
St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church Cemetery, Crane Creek
Spinney Hill Cemetery
Old Spinney Hill Cemetery
Stoney Crest Mennonite Cemetery
Private & miscellaneous burials

2) Biggar School Register Index 1910 to 1924
3) Biggar School Register Index 1925 to 1929
4) Biggar School Register Index 1930 to 1935
5) Canadian 1911 Census for the village of Biggar
6) Town of Biggar Census - 1912, 1915, 1919, 1924, 1929 & 1945
7) Births, Deaths, Marriages from The Independent 1913 to 1920
8) Births, Deaths, Marriages from The Independent 1921 to 1950
9) Local histories from the Biggar area
10) Biggar area undertaker records
11) Obituary Index The Independent, Biggar from 1984 to 2005
11) Index of the retirees honoured by the Biggar Terminal Retirement Association from 1946 to 1992
12) If a specific date of an event is known birth, marriage or death, we will search The Independent, Biggar, SK from 1913 - 2005.

** NOTE:
Not all editions of the

newspaper are available.

You will receive a written report of the research, noting all sources checked and any information found. Return postage is included. The research is done by knowledgeable local volunteers. If you require a more extensive search, we can supply you with the names of people who could do this.

* Research policy subject to change. *

Canadian National Railway

Seniority List Search

The Biggar Branch Saskatchewan Genealogical Society will do a search in their entire collection of seniority lists for one name for a fee of $25.00 and a specific search in one named seniority list for $10.00.

1) Canadian National Railways Mountain Region C.A. W. Agreement 5.1 Consolidated Senioritiy List March 21, 1991 to December 17, 2003
2) Canadian National Railways Prairie Region C.A.W. Agreement 5.1 Consolidated Seniority List April 1991 to January 1993 and December 1995
3) Canadian National Railway Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Western Lines Biggar division Seniority List of Sectionmen January 1st, 1921
4) Canadian National Railway Western Region Seniority Standing of Conductors, Trainmen, Passenger Trainmen, Yardmen and Yardmaster, June 30, 1956
5) Canadian National Railway Locomotive Engineers Prairie Region 7th District 1970 Seniority List Index
6) Canadian National Railways Western Region Seniority Standing of Freight, Passenger, Trainmen and Yardmen Effective January 1st, 1942
7) Canadian National Railway Western Region Saskatchewan District Agents & Operators Seniority List December 31, 1961
8) Canadian National Railways Western Region and Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway, Pacific Great Eastern Railway Seniority Lists of Dispatchers, Train Movement Directors, Telegraphers, Towermen, Telecommunications Department Employees Published May 1st, 1968
9) Canadian National Railway Seniority List Agents and Operators Mountain Region As Of January 1, 1975
10) Canadian National Railway Dispatchers Seniority List Mountain and Prairie Regions As At January 1st, 1977

You will receive a written report of the research, noting all sources checked and any information found. Return postage is included. The research is done by knowledgeable local volunteers. If you require a more extensive search we can supply you with the names of people who could do this.

* Research policy subject to change. *

Send all research requests to:

Biggar Branch SGS

P.O. Box 1103

Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

All cheques or money orders should be made out to " Biggar Branch SGS."

Working to preserve the heritage of our community

Volume 14, No. 1

rwchambe — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:39:59 CDT

Biggar Root Booster
Newsletter Biggar Branch Saskatchewan Genealogical Society

Volume 14, No. 1 Winter 2008

Annual Report - The Year in Review

2007 marked the 22st year of existence of the Biggar Branch SGS. In 2007 the Biggar Branch had thirteen members and held 10 regular meetings, with average attendance at a meeting of 4 members. During the year, one longtime member moved away.

No workshops were held at our monthly meetings, but instead we focussed on aiding our members with their own personal research. We held a three part Beginners Workshop on October 16, October 23, and November 7. Six people registered for the classes, but in the end four attended the classes. The classes were a mix of instruction and "hands on" activities using the resources the Branch has in its library. Rae was the instructor. The workshops did not result in our Branch attracting new members.

We published four issues of our newsletter, The Biggar Root Booster, with a total of 16 pages published for the year. Topics included: The Year in Review, Wikipedia for Tracing Your Ancestors, Ukrainian Archives, Passenger Ship Lists, Ancestry Announces Major Additions to Canada Collection; Biggar Branch Updates Biggar Cemetery Recording; Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry.ca Unveil Strategic Partnership at Ontario Genealogical Society Annual Seminar, Domestics Brought to Canada, Ancestry Online Community Creates More Than 275 Million Profiles and 3 Million Family Trees In Last Year, Federation and Findmypast.com Online Partnership, Biggar Branch SGS ‘wiki’, The United Church of Canada Archives Finds a New Home, World Cat. We advertised our publications in the newsletter and used some Biggar historical facts as fillers.

Electronic copies of our newsletter in PDF format were sent to 15 of the 19 other SGS Branches. One of the Branches had indicated no interest in receiving our newsletter and for three others we do not have an email address. So if there is any SGS Branch out there who is not receiving our newspaper and would like to get a copy please forward your email address to our email address which is published in the Bulletin.

We received electronic copies of the Regina Branch newsletter and a hard copy was placed in our library.

We continued to work on the Biggar Heritage Album during 2007. Several more pages have been completed and placed in the albums.

Our publications program continued to expand so that the Branch now has eight publications. During 2007, three new publications came off the press. These being: Births, Deaths and Marriages from The Independent 1941 to 1945, Births, Deaths and Marriages from The Independent 1946 to 1950, and as a result of completing the update of Biggar Cemetery, We produced the Biggar Cemetery Directory with Plot Map . The birth, death and marriage series covers from 1913 to 1950 in five volumes with 349 pages of data. We continued to clip the obituaries from The Independent and plan to publish in manuscript form an index of the obits for 2006 and 2007 in 2008 for a few select institutions and will sometime in the future, after a few more years go to a full scale publication of the information. We already have two books: Obituary Index The Independent 1990 to 2005 and another volume which covers the period 1984 to 1989 so between the publications the index spans from 1984 to 2007. We have hard copies of the obituaries from 1991 to 2005. Copies of all our publications are donated to the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society, Biggar Museum & Gallery and two copies are placed on Legal Deposit with Library and Archives Canada. All of our publications were placed on consignment at the Biggar Museum & Gallery and we continue to receive orders via Coutts Library Services for our publications. - Our Branch brochure, the Basic Search and Canadian National Railway Seniority List Search brochures are placed at the Biggar Museum & Gallery and Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Library. We received two written queries last year and we were successful in providing some new information and confirming information the parties concerned already had. We also answer written genealogical queries on behalf of the Biggar Museum & Gallery, but none were received, but did answer about three telephone queries. The updating of Biggar Cemetery was completed and a electronic copy in SRI format was forwarded to the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society. Detailed printouts were given to the Town of Biggar, Biggar Museum & Gallery and a copy kept for the Biggar Branch library. Completing the update resulted in the Branch publishing a directory with a plot map of the cemetery. We were fortunate to receive a Community Grant from Saskatchewan Lotteries for producing the detailed listing. The grant of $86.00 only covered about half of the costs of the printout. The branch picked up the balance. For the whole cemetery update project, some $64.00 worth of supplies were donated. Thirty or more trips worth $93.45 were made to the cemetery, a minimum of 138 hours were spent compiling, editing and checking data worth over $1041.00, and at a minimum of approximately 118 hours worth $890.00 were spent prior to the project inputting data into the computer from the 1985 recording and creating a plot map of the cemetery. The self-help and volunteer time at a minimum value comes to over $2090.00 for the project. Biggar Branch has these Special Collections:

Town of Biggar Census for 1912, 1915, 1920, 1924,1929 and 1945
assortment of Canadian National Railway Seniority Lists
CNR Retirees honoured by Biggar Terminal Retirement Association 1946 - 1991
births, marriage and deaths from The Independent newspaper 1913 to 1950
Obituary Index The Independent newspaper 1984 to 2006
obituaries on file from The Independent 1991 to 2006
births, deaths and marriages and other notable items from the Landis Record newspaper 1916, April 27 to 1937, August 25th, not indexed
2 collections of Biggar undertaker records, indexes
1911 Canadian Census Index for Village of Biggar
cemetery recordings for cemeteries in the R.M. of Biggar including the Town of Biggar, R.M. of Glenside, Landis, Cando and Ruthilda.
1881 Canadian Census Index
HOME CD
International Research Directories & the British Isles Genealogical Register
basic ‘how to" books and research papers for Saskatchewan, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Scandinavia

The Branch donated $130.00 to the SGS Moving Campaign, which amounts to $10.00 per Branch Member. We issued a challenge via our newsletter to the other SGS Branches to match or better our contribution based on the $10.00 per capita.

We donated a copy of Tracing Your Saskatchewan Ancestors: A Guide to the Records and How To Use Them to the Reading Room at the Biggar Museum & Gallery.

We expanded our library collection purchasing 6 publications: Tracing Your Aboriginal Ancestors in the Prairie Provinces; Tracing Your Saskatchewan Ancestors, 3rd Edition; Births, Deaths, Marriages from Regina Leader 1914 ––1916; Ukrainian Genealogy - A Beginner's Guide; Genealogical Research Directory 2007 and The Scottish Family Tree Detective. Four of the six were purchased from the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society.

Last fall, Rae set up a website for the Branch using the ‘wiki’ format with wetpaint.com at no cost to the Branch. The site is paid for with Google Adsense Ads. The web address is http://biggargenealogy.wetpaint.com The site includes our Branch Library Catalogue, sources available for research at the Biggar Museum & Gallery, announcements, some local history, our research services, links to other websites, including the SGS page and a list of local history books for our area which are online. The website is worth the effort alone for publishing our Branch Library Listing online for our members.

At the Legion Awards Night in November, Rae was presented with a "Certificate of Appreciation" by the Royal Canadian Legion, Biggar Branch for his efforts in assisting the Legion identify the graves of Legion Members at the Biggar Cemetery and for including a symbol on the map in the Biggar Cemetery Directory with Plot Map to identify the grave of "One Who Served This Country".

In November, long time Branch Member, Marj Hawes celebrated her 90th Birthday and the Branch extended its congratulations. Marj was our Branch Secretary for many years.

The Wreck of the Steamer

John B. Lyon

September 1900
The Wreck of the steamer John B. Lyon of Lake Erie, September 11, 1900 as told by David Thomas Brown of Lot One Concession Two, Moore Township, Second Engineer the only ships officer that survived of a crew of 14, eight perished, to his only surviving son Harry S. Brown.

The John B. Lyon was built in the quayle shipyard in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1881. She was of wood constructions over a steel frame. She was 256 feet long with a beam or width of 42 feet and depth of 20 feet. She had twin smoke stakes set athwartships or crosswise of the ship. She had a web of stays between the smoke stacks which gave her the name of a spider boat. She belonged to the Gilchrist fleet. She was powered by a steeple quadruple expansion engine which means there were four cylinders hooked up in tandem one above the other. A very unusual power plant being the only one of that type that I have ever heard of. Steam being supplied by two fitzgibon two fire boilers.

The Lyon was only 19 years old when she met her doom on wild lake Erie at a point approximately ten miles north north west of the town of Girard, Pennsylvania. The time of the end approximately 2.00 a.m., September 11, 1900.

The Lyon and her barge, the W.A. Georger had loaded iron ore at Marquette, Michigan. After a normal passage down the lakes, she dropped her barge at Ashtabula, Ohio, while the Lyon’s destination was Cleveland, Ohio, 25 miles further west. However, as chief engineer Charles Willous of Cleveland, had complained of the poor quality of coal she was burning. Captain Senghas of Marine City, Michigan. It was decided to go further east to Conneaut, Ohio, upon arrival at Conneaut there was no fuel available, but there was fuel available at Erie, Pennsylvania, another 70 miles further east so the Lyon headed for Erie and disaster. As there was no weather forecasts in those days Captain Senghas had no way of knowing that a hurricane had struck far away in Galveston, Texas, a couple of days earlier causing terrible damage and taking the lives of 1,500 people. This storm was now about to strike lake Erie and take 8 more lives. As the Lyons was steaming along somewhere between Conneaut and Girard, Pennsylvania, she started to feel the effects of the dying hurricane. Some of her timbers were groaning from effect of the rapidly rising seas. She soon developed a bad leak somewhere in the cargo hole. Two of the deck hands volunteered to go into the cargo to see is there was anything they could do. They never returned. At this point, I will try to narrate the story as Dad told it to me.

I went on watch at midnight the water was rising fast, the Captain called all hands and it was decided to work her closer to land but it was a losing battle and we all knew it. Captain Senghas left the bridge in charge of the mate and came below to prepare as best as he could for the coming disaster. It was found one deckhand had no lifebelt . The Captain removed his and put on the deckhand, the deck hand survived, the heroic Captain perished. At this time it was agreed that Captain Senghas would stay at the engine room door or companionway and Chief Engineer Willous would stay at the fire room door to call the firemen when the time came. After the Chief Engineer, a fireman came off watch at midnight he shaved and put on his best clothes and came below to say goodbye to my firemen and I. When I asked him why he was all dressed up he replied if I am going to be a corpse I might as well be a good looking one. Shortly before 2.00 am a hatch cover let go so now the ship was taking water from the broken hatch as well as through the bottom. Captain Senghas tied his wife and the Chef’s wife to a hatch plank. At about 2.a.m. he shouted for me to come up at once as she was down by the head and was sinking. I made it up to the deck alright. My fireman did not make it when I saw the water coming up the deck for a moment I was scared but when it got to my feet I was determined to try as hard as I could to survive as I had a wife and then month old daughter at home. The suction drew me down for a few terrifying seconds when I came to surface I was in a mass of floating wreckage, I got my face into the wind and climbed over most of it, I found a step ladder that had been nailed to wall of the after cabin and a hammock and a couple of short timbers which I managed to tie together with some rope into a make shift raft. At this time I saw a length of spar or mast come above a wave with a man clinging to it. It was the Chief Engineer’s fireman, he had been back aft on the fantail deck by the main mast when she went under. Part of the fantail deck floated away with part of the mainmast fastened to it the firemen climbed up and managed to tie himself to it and washed ashore in about four hours. The Captain’s wife and the Chef’s wife also were ashore in about four hours, both their husband’s perished. The waves where huge and each one had a comber on top six to ten feet high. I had to hold my breath as I went through each one. It was terrible. With the coming of daylight the seas started to abate during the forenoon. I twice sighted a tug that was looking for survivors but was not able to attract their attention. Late in the afternoon, I sighted a red building on a hill so I left the raft and started swimming toward it. I finally made it to shore when I passed out about 6.00pm. Two men found me. I thought they were cruel as they made me stand up and my legs hurt but by the time we got to the red building which was a saw mill I could walk again. The cook in the saw mill gave me a bowl of black coffee to drink. I thought, I had never tasted anything as good as it was. They put me to bed and I slept for twelve hours. It was a terrible ordeal. The next day, I saw the other survivors. I asked the Chief’s firemen what he was going to do. He said I am going to get as far away from the great lakes as I can. I might not be lucky again. He must have gone a long way for I never heard of him again.

Chief Engineer, David T. Brown the Old Chief, or old Davey the Chief, he was called by his crew on the Alexander Leslie his last ship, he must have been a good Chief for he had the same crew for seven ears but they almost all volunteered for naval service in World War Two. He tried to go too, but they turned him down because of his age.

The old Chief lived for 42 years after this terrible ordeal. To me his last surviving son he was the last Engineer that ever opened the throttle on his main engine and got his ship under way. I am glad he was such a good swimmer or I would not be her to tell about this terrible ordeal. He sailed away on his final voyage on July 1, 1942 at the age of 69 years, 8 months. May he sail on forever on tranquil seas with our Blessed Lord and Saviour at the helm.

He left all of us a great legacy, of honesty, integrity and bravery.

Signed - Harry S. Brown.

Library: United States

rwchambe — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:24:07 CDT

UNITED STATES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Directory of American Libraries With Genealogy or Local History Collections
P. William Filby, 1988, 319 pages

UNITED STATES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Going To Salt Lake City To Do Family History Research
J. Carlyle Parker, 1989, 84 pages

UNITED STATES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
The Library Of Congress A Guide To Genealogical And Historical Research
1990, 381 pages

UNITED STATES - CENSUS
1920 United States Census Research Guide

UNITED STATES - CENSUS
How to Use the US Census (Video)
Family History Library, Salt Lake City
[$5.00 U.S.]

UNITED STATES - CENSUS - INDEXES
Accelerated Indexing Systems United States Census Indexes (on Microfiche)
Family History Library, Salt Lake City, 1992, 4 pages
[Free]

UNITED STATES - GENEALOGY
Ancestry's Red Book
American State, County & Town Sources
edited by Alice Eichholz, 1992, 858 pages

UNITED STATES - GENEALOGY
The Researchers Guide To American Genealogy
Val. D. Greenwood, 1990, 609 pages

UNITED STATES - GENEALOGY
Research Outlines
U.S. (general), 50 states & D.C.
Family History Library, Salt Lake City
United States Outline, 52 pages, 1988
Also a Research Outline for each STATE
[In Black Binder] [$10.00 U.S.]

UNITED STATES - GENEALOGY
The Handbook For Genealogists
United States of America - 8th edition
326 pages plus MAPS

UNITED STATES - HISTORY
Strangers To These Shores: Race and Ethic Relations
in the United States
Vincent Parrillo, 1985, 547 pages

UNITED STATES - INDEXES
United States Social Security Death Index
Family History Library, Salt Lake City, 1994, 4 pages
[Free]

UNITED STATES - LAND AND PROPERTY
Using Land Records To Solve Research Problems
Wendy L. Elliott, 6 pages

UNITED STATES - MAPS
Genealogical Atlas of the United States
George B. Everton Jr., 1966, 120 pages

UNITED STATES - MILITARY - INDEXES
Family Search
Military Index Resources Guide, 1994, 1 page
Family History Library, Salt Lake City
[Free]

UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS
Research Outline
U.S. Military Records
Family History Library, Salt Lake City, 1993, 39 pages
[$ .50 U.S.]

UNITED STATES - VITAL RECORDS
Where To Write For Vital Records

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - FULTON COUNTY - PERIODICALS
Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume XIV, No. 2, April 1983
Volume XIV, No.3, July 1983
Volume XIV, No. 4, October 1983
Volume XV, No. 1, January 1984
Volume XV, No. 2, April 1984

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - SALEM TOWNSHIP - CEMETERIES
Cemetery Records Knox County Illinois Salem Twp.
Knox County Genealogical Society, Galesburg, Illinois
n.d., 115 pages

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - MAQUON - HISTORY
History of Maquon and Vicinity 1827-1976
edited by Maquon Historical Assn. 1976, 256 pages

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - TAX LISTS
1855 Tax Lists Knox County
by Carley Anne Robinson
Knox County Genealogy Society, Galesburg, Illinois, n.d., n.p.

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - GENEALOGY
The Report
Journal of the Ohio Genealogical Society
Volume XXI, Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, Number 4, 1981
Volume XXII, Number 2, Number 3, Number 4, 1982

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - HAW CREEK TOWNSHIP - CEMETERIES
Cemetery Records Knox County Illinois Haw Creek Twp.
Knox County Genealogical Society, Galesburg, Illinois
n.d., 128 pages

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - INDIAN POINT TOWNSHIP CEMETERIES
Cemetery Records Knox County Illinois Indian Point Twp.
Knox County Genealogical Society, Galesburg, Illinois
n.d., n.p.

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - MAQUON TOWNSHIP - CEMETERIES
Cemetery Records Knox County Illinois Maquon Township Twp.
Knox County Genealogical Society, Galesburg, Illinois
n.d., n.p.

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - CENSUS RECORDS
Census of 1840 Knox County, Illinois, Volume 1
Knox County Genealogical Society, Galesburg, Illinois
c.1973, 19 pages

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - PERIODICALS
Knox County Genealogical Society Quarterly
Volume 1 c 1973 to Volume 14, No. 2, June, 1986
ISSN 0741-7284
Includes various records and lists.

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - KNOX COUNTY - VITAL RECORDS
Index to Death Records 1878 - 1910 Knox County Illinois
Knox County Genealogical Society, Galesburg, Illinois
n.d., 136 pages

UNITED STATES - ILLINOIS - STARK COUNTY - PERIODICALS
Stark Co. Il. Genealogical Society Quarterly
Volume 2, No. 1, September 1993
Volume 2, No. 2, December 1993

UNITED STATES - NEW YORK - GENEALOGY
Descriptive Inventory Of The New York Collection

UNITED STATES - NORTH DAKOTA - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Guide To Manuscripts
Compiled by David P. Gray

UNITED STATES - NEW YORK - ULSTER COUNTY - CEMETERIES
Gravestone Inscriptions of Ulster County, NY
compiler Lila James Roney
Stemmons Publishing Company, Salt Lake City, 1987
38 pages plus index

UNITED STATES - NORTH DAKOTA - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Guide To North Dakota State Archives
David P. Gray, 1985, 151 pages

UNITED STATES - NORTH DAKOTA - SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS
North Dakota Scene of Hallinglag's
(Photocopy) Interest to those with Norwegian heritage.

UNITED STATES - OHIO - GENEALOGY
Ohio
The Cross Road of Our Nation
Records & Pioneer Families
published by Ohio Genealogical Society
Volume XXII, No.1, Jan/Mar 1981
Volume XXII, No.2, Apr/Jun 1981
Volume XXII, No.3, Jul/Sep 1981
Volume XXII, No.4, Oct/Dec 1981
Volume XXIII, No. 1, Jan/Mar 1982
Volume XXIII, No. 2, Apr/Jun 1982
Volume XXIII, No. 3, Jul/Sep 1982
Volume XXIII, No.4, Oct/Dec 1982